Join our Management Team

Thank you for your interest in South Derbyshire District Council and our Executive Director – Place & Prosperity opportunity.

We are looking for an outstanding leader who combines strategic vision with operational credibility, strong commercial awareness and excellent political acumen.

Adept at working with Elected Members, building productive partnerships and navigating complex stakeholder environments, you will be a key member of our  Leadership Team. This role will bring resilience and strategic strength, so together we can shape the future of the organisation.

You will provide leadership across a wide-ranging portfolio that includes planning, housing, economic development and regeneration, cultural and community services and events and major projects. You will lead some of the Council’s most important priorities. This includes delivering our Local Plan, enabling sustainable growth, promoting health and wellbeing and the best use of our parks and open spaces, progressing investment in the regeneration and future prosperity of our towns and villages. You will play a leading role in ensuring economic development remains at the forefront of our ambitions, helping to create the conditions for jobs, investment and inclusive growth.

In return, you will find a Council that is prepared to invest, embrace innovation and support you to make a lasting impact. If you share our ambition for South Derbyshire and want to help lead one of the most important periods in the District’s history, I would be delighted to hear from you.

Our ambition, with communities at the heart

We are a high performing Council with strong foundations, significant ambition and a clear focus on delivering for our residents, businesses and communities. Our Council Plan vision is to shape our environment, drive our economy and support our communities; this role sits at the heart of making that vision a reality.

South Derbyshire is one of the fastest-growing districts in the country, home to thriving communities, major employers, nationally significant transport links, the East Midlands Freeport and exciting regeneration opportunities. At the same time, we are committed to providing excellent services, improving housing outcomes and creating prosperity that benefits everyone.

Our future

As Local Government Reorganisation progresses towards the creation of the new unitary authority in 2028, we have a unique opportunity to define how local public services look across a much larger geography. This role will be instrumental in helping to shape place-based services in the new authority, ensuring that South Derbyshire’s strengths, ambitions and communities are strongly represented throughout the transition.

Justin Ives
Chief Executive
South Derbyshire District Council